WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Colorado Mesa dialed up a pair of long distance goals to overtake Midwestern State 3-1 Sunday afternoon here in the finale of the MSU Classic.

The loss sends the Mustangs to 0-2 for the time in four seasons, but the 2008 squad recovered to win the final six matches of the regular season before advancing to the LSC semifinals.

"We came out in our new system trying to be a little more solid," MSU coach Jeff Trimble said. "We were trying to be a little more connected to the ball. And we were able to look skillful and played good soccer for the opening 15 minutes."

The Mustangs had made the switch to a 4-3-2-1 prior to a season opening 3-0 setback to No. 10 Fort Lewis (Colo.) on Friday, but opted to make the move back to the trusted 4-4-2 alignment on Sunday.

But Colorado Mesa managed to keep the ball alive in the box on a corner kick opportunity in the 12th minute when Leilani Weirnicki recovered a blocked shot and banged another off of the crossbar before junior forward Renae McFadden collected the carom and found the open net to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead.

"Our inability to clear the corner killed us," Trimble said. "It was an effort thing that we couldn't get to the ball."

Seven minutes later, the Mavericks built numbers in the box but it was an MSU clear gathered in by Kaitlynn Holt who blasted a shot in from 30 yards out to give CMU a 2-0 advantage.

"That was a great shot, but we just didn't close on the ball," Trimble said.

So the Mustangs turned to a pack of seven freshmen led by the striker duo of Kensli Pounds and Kaila Maxey, who are both on a minute restriction while recovering from injury.

"The seven freshmen gave us a lift," Trimble said. "It was the highlight of the game for us and the light bulb went on."

Pounds, a speedster from Mansfield's Legacy High, streaked down the right wing and served a cross to Maxey, who coolly volleyed the ball in to pull the Mustangs within a goal before intermission.

"We really got a chance to see what (Kensli and Maxey) could do," Trimble said. "We can't wait to get them at 100 percent. They will make a mark and do great things for us."

The frosh crew which also included Morgan Hannon, Teri Todd, Kaily Whitsel, Alex Copp, Alex Edwards and Ashley Cottrell made plenty of noise in the opening half giving the Mustangs the will to push for the equalizer to open the second half.

Yet another freshman - Stevie Harris - accounted for two of MSU's four great opportunities to open the second stanza with junior Mickey Brown and senior Haley Crandall getting looks at the tying tally, but it wasn't to be.

Colorado Mesa sophomore midfielder Daniela Salinas ripped a shot that clanged off of the crossbar and into the goal in the 63rd minute as the Mavericks re-established a two-goal lead at 3-1.

"The deciding factor was the first 15 minutes of the second half," Trimble said. "We came out inspired and put on the pressure but couldn't score. That goal put us in a world of hurt."

The Mustangs, who outworked CMU to a 15-12 shot advantage and a 4-1 edge in corner kicks, compete in the Fischer Classic at Tom Thompson Field in Edmond, Okla. next weekend. MSU takes on Central Oklahoma Friday at 4 p.m. before playing Southwestern Oklahoma Sunday at noon.

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